Piano action



J. C. POTWIN Oct. 6, 1942.

PIANO ACTION Filed Sept. 30, 1941 2 SheetsSheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PIANO ACTION Julian C. Potwin, Ivoryton, Conn., assigner toPratt, Read & Company, Ivoryton, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication September 30, 1941, Serial No. 413,020

Claims.

This invention relates generally to piano mechanism and in particular toa piano action of drop type for a low upright piano.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved drop typeaction for a low upright piano.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piano action of droptype having an improved abstract and whip assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide piano mechanismincluding a key and a piano action having a whip, in which the key isoperatively connected with the action by an abstract which is arrangedin direct striking engagement with a pivoted whip and pivotallyconnected into the action so as to be transportable with the action as aunit when disconnected from the key.`

Yet another object is to provide an improved action comprised of but fewparts, compactly assembled with a minimum number of frictionalconnections and adjustable portions, to provide for a long operatinglife with little attention and replacement of parts and an improvedrepeating action of the piano key.

A particular feature of this invention is found in the provision of apiano action having a pivoted Whip and abstract foot portion arrangedfor striking engagement, but relatively formed so that a rocking actionoccurs therebetween simultaneously with the pivotal lifting of the whipby the abstract. Any friction between these parts tending to restricttheir free movement is thus practically eliminated.

Another feature of this invention is found in the provision of anabstract comprised of a wire lifter with end members secured thereon, inwhich each end of the wire is hooked for anchoring in a correspondingmember and each member is grooved so that corresponding hooks andgrooves cooperate to retain a corresponding end member in a xed positionon the abstract lifter.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation partly in cross section of one of the units of acomplete piano action showing the improved abstract and whip assembly ofthis invention in one operating position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrated similarly to Fig. 1 showing theparts thereof in changed position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the abstract head member inFig. l as seen along the lines 3--3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational View of the abstract foot member asseen along the line 4 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a piano action unit similarin all respects to Fig. 1 but having an abstract of a modied form;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the head portion of the modified abstract asseen along the line 6 6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a bottom view of the foot member of the modified abstract asseen along the line 1-1 in Fig. 5.

In the practice of this invention there is provided a drop type pianoaction having a plurality of abstracts, all simultaneously connectible,or disconnectible with corresponding piano keys as an incident to theassembly or disassembly, respectively, of the action and piano keys.Each of the abstracts is provided with a foot portion extendinglongitudinally in a direction from front to rear of the piano action andpivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof into the piano action.One end of the abstract foot portion is arranged to underlie a portionof a corresponding pivoted whip, the adjacent surfaces of the abstractfoot portion and whip being reversely curved and arranged in strikingengagement, the engaging surfaces providing for a rocking action betweenthe whip and abstract simultaneously with the pivotal lifting of thewhip by the abstract. Because of the pivotal connection of the abstractfoot portion in the remainder of the piano action, and its releasableconnection with a corresponding piano key, the abstract on disconnectionfrom the key is readily adapted to be transported or moved about withthe remainder of the piano action as a unit.

There is shown in Fig. 1 a piano action including a supporting rail I 0which in turn is mounted on a plurality of mounting brackets (notshown). A whip I2 is pivotally connected to the rail I0 and in turnpivotally supports a jack I3. As the whip I2 is raised the jack I3engages, in the usual manner, the butt I6 of a hammer I4, this motionbeing transmitted through the jack to pivot the hammer into strikingengagement with a corresponding piano string. A back check I'I andbridle strap wire I8 are both supported on the whip, which isoperatively connected with a corresponding key I9 by an abstract 2|having a head portion 22 and a foot portion 23 connected together by aWire lifter 24.

The head portion 22 extends longitudinally in a direction from front torear of the piano action, with a portion thereof overhanging and inoperative engagement with a capstan 26, which is mounted near the rearend of the key. As shown in Figs. l and 3 the upper end of the wirelifter 24 is of substantially hook or U-shape, the free end portion 21thereof being anchored in the head or end member 22 and positionedtransversely thereof. A groove 28 extending in the direction of thelifter wire 2Q is formed in the longitudinal side 29 of the head portion22 and extends substantially transversely thereof. The groove 28 isarranged substantially normal to the anchored portion 21 of the lifter24 and is adapted to receive therein the straight or base portion 3l endof the lifter being bent so as to position the intermediate or bodyportion of the lifter wire 24 substantially between the longitudinalsides 28 and 33 of the end member 22. By virtue of the anchoring of thelifter wire in the head end 22 and the disposition of a portion thereofin the groove 28 the head portion 22 is fixedly secured to the lifterwire.

The abstract foot portion 23 also extends longitudinally in a directionfrom front to rear or transversely of the piano action and is pivotallyconnected intermediate its ends 3A and 36 by an axis member 31 toguiding or retaining means designated generally as 38. The retainingmeans 38 is comprised of an arm 39 mounted at one end on a rail member4I comprising part of the piano action, the opposite end 42 of the arm39 being pivotally connected by an axis member 43 to one end of a lever44. The other end of the lever 44 is pivotally connected to the abstractfoot portion by the axis member 31.

The end 311 of the abstract foot portion is secured tothe lower end ofthe lifter rod which as seen in Fig. 4, is hook-formed similarly to theupper end hereinabove described, with like reference characters beingused to designate corresponding parts. It is seen, therefore, that the.end members 22 and 23 are rigidly secured to the Wire lifter 24 toprovide a substantially integral abstract unit, with the body portion ofthe lifter 24 intermediate the end members 22 and 23 being ofsubstantially straight form.

The end 35 of the end member or foot portion 23 underlies the endportion 46 of the whip I2 and is formed along its upper side with areversely curved surface 41. The under or lower side of the whip end 85is provided with a corresponding reversely curved surface 48 adapted tofit in mating engagement with the surface 41. The surfaces 41 and 48 areseparated by a felt or like bushing I9 secured to the whip I2 andfunctioning toV quiet the striking or abutting engagement of such twosurfaces during the operation of the piano mechanism. From aconsideration of Fig. l, therefore, it is seen that the head portion 22is free 0f the piano action and overhangs the capstan 28 in abuttingengagement So as to be readily connectible and disconnectible therefrom,with the foot portion of the abstract being pivotally connected with thepiano action by the retaining means 38 and having a portion thereof inan underlying position relative to the whip I2 and in direct engagementtherewith. On disconnection of? the abstract and key, therefore, theabstract .remains connected with the piano action.

The abstract 2I duringplaying movement thereof is guided in asubstantially up and down direction by means including a rail member Ihaving adjustable guide elements 52 thereon individual to each abstract2|. The guide rail 5I is removably of the lifter end, the other leg 32of the U-shaped secured to the key frame 53 and rearwardly thereof, andin Fig. 1 is shown removed from the key frame and in a position forsimultaneously moving all of the abstracts 2I out of an engagingposition with a corresponding key I9 and towards@ the remainder of thepiano action. With the rail member 5I retained in a position adjacentthe piano action by suitable means (not shown) all ofl the abstracts 2|are transportable with the action: as a unit for shipping and assemblypurposes.

As shown in Fig. l the key I9 is in a rest posi-- tion, with the Zone ofengagement between the abstract foot portion 23 and whip I2 at thesurfaces 21 and I8 being substantially above the axis' member 31. Ondepressing or playing of the key the abstract 2i is lifted upwardly toin turn pivotally lift the whip I2. As the whip I2 is raised the zone ofengagement between the curved surfaces 41 and 88 moves outwardly towardthe extremity of the abstract end 35, as shown in Fig. 2, by virtue ofthe rocking action provided between the whip I2 and end member 23 bysuch curved surfaces. Frictional resistance between the engagingportions of the abstract and whip is thus practically eliminated, sincethe rocking action occurs simultaneously with the lifting of the whipI2. An operation of the piano action is thus accomplished which improvesthe repeat action of the key I9, this improved operation beingfacilitated by the reduced number of pivotal connections utilized in theassembly of the abstract 2 I, and the consequent reduction in the numberof parts to be set or regulated in the adjustment of the abstract 2l. Byvirtue of this simple and compact construction and arrangement of theabstract 2I and whip I2, the initial adjustment of the abstract is notchanged when the abstract is disconnected from the key for transportingor assembly purposes and is positively maintained over a long operatingperiod.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and '7 there is illustrated a piano action whichis similar in all respects to the action shown in Figs. l and 2 exceptfor a modified form of abstract 2|. The head member 22' operativelyengages the capstan 28 in a manner similar to that described for thevhead member 22, and extends longitudinally in a direction from front torear of the piano action. A groove 56 in a longitudinal side face 51extends in the direction of the lifter wire 24 and substantiallytransversely of the head member 22. A second groove 58 formed in the topside 59 of the head member 22 is arranged normal to the groove 55 and incommunication therewith. The upper end of the lifter rod 24' is ofsubstantially hook or U-shape, the free end 62 Vthereof being anchoredin a substantially vertical direction in the head member 22 and theremaining portions thereof being disposed within the grooves 56 and 58.As is best seen in Fig. 6 the groove 58 is of a depth such that the bodyportion of the lifter wire 24 is positioned substantially intermediatethe longitudinal sides 51 and 63 of the head member in a substantiallyup and down direction.

The foot member 23 has a substantially transversely extending groove 84formed in the longitudinal side 68 thereof for receiving a portion ofthe lower end of lifter wire 2li', which is of substantially U-shape,the free end 61 thereof being anchored in a substantially verticaldirection in the foot member 23. From a consideration of Figs. 6 and 7it is evident that the lifter rod 24' is of straight form oversubstantially its entire length with the bent ends thereof extended inopposite directions normally therefrom and longitudinally of the endmembers 22 and 23. Each end 62 and 6l of the lifter wire 24 is firmlyanchored in a corresponding one of the end members 22 and 23',respectively, with the lifter wire portions substantially adjacent tosuch ends being disposed in corresponding grooves formed in the endmembers. There is thus provided a simple and rugged abstract member ofsubstantially unit construction.

The invention thus provides for an improved abstract which is readilyconnectible or disconnectble from a corresponding key and assembled fordirect engagement with a corresponding whip in the piano action in amanner such that the abstract on disconnection from the correspondingkey is transportable With the piano action as a unit. The engagingportions of the abstract and whip are of a relative form such that arocking action occurs betwen the whip and abstract concurrently with thepivotal lifting or raising of the whip by the abstract. Frictionalresistance between the abstract and whip is thus substantiallyeliminated. The number of pivotal connections utilized in the assemblyof the abstract are reduced to a minimum so that the initial adjustmentof the abstract relative to a corresponding whip and key and theefficient operation of the action is positively retained over a longoperating life.

Although the invention has been described with specific reference to apreferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not tobe so limited since changes in the various parts and their assembly canbe made therein which are within the full intended scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An abstract for a piano action including a wire lifter and an endmember at one end of the wire lifter having longitudinally extendingside faces, with a groove in one of said faces extending in thedirection of said lifter and substantially transversely of said endmember, said lifter being of substantially hook shape at said one end,with the free end of said hook anchored in said body member, and atleast one other portion of said hook being disposed in said groove toretain said end member in a fixed position on said lifter wire.

2. An abstract including a wire lifter with a substantially straightbody portion and an end portion of substantially U-shape, an end membersecured to said end portion having longitudinally extending side facesand a groove in one of said side faces extending in the direction ofsaid lifter body portion and substantially transversely of said endmember, with one leg of said substantially U-shaped end portion beinganchored in said body member and extending transversely thereof, and atleast a portion of the base of said U-shaped portion being disposed insaid groove, the other leg of said end portion being of a form toposition the body portion of said wire lifter substantially intermediatesaid side faces.

3. An abstract with a wire lifter including an end member at one endthereof having side faces, with one of said side faces having a groovetherein extending in the direction of said lifter and substantiallytransversely of said end member, and another side face adjacent saidfirst side face having a groove therein normal to said rst groove and incommunication therewith, said lifter having a hook portion at said oneend substantially parallel with said first groove and in an anchoredposition in said body member, and another portion bent for dispositionin said two grooves to retain said end member fixed on said lifter wire.

4. An abstract including a wire lifter and an end member at one end ofthe wire lifter having longitudinally extending side faces, with agroove in one of said side faces intermediate the ends of said endmember extended in the direction of said lifter wire, said lifter beingof hook shape at said one end thereof, with the free end of said hookanchored in said end member, and `at least another portion of said hookbeing located in said groove and confined therein against any movementlongitudinally of said end member, and cooperating with said anchoredhook end to retain said end member in a xed position on said lifterwire.

5. An abstract for a piano action associated with a corresponding pianokey for applying a force on the abstract to actuate the same for aplaying operation of said piano action, said abstract including a wirelifter movable in a substantially up and down direction, a body memberat one end of said lifter wire having a side face with a groove thereinextended in the direction of said wire lifter and said groove defining aportion on the body rearwardly of the groove comprising a projectionrelative to the vbottom of the groove, said wire lifter at said one endhaving a part extending in a different direction than that of the grooveanchored in said body member, and a second part receivable Within saidgroove through the open lengthwise top thereof, a portion on said bodymember to one side of said groove adapted to be operatively connectedwith said key, and a second portion on said body member including saidprojection acting as a stop for said second part in said groove toretain said second part of the wire lifter rigid in the body member onapplication of the force from said key on said body member.

JULIAN C. POTWIN.

